The Delta independent., 1887-03-08
CHARACTERISTICS OF RABIES.
The Initial symptoms and Progress
OF the Disease-The Mad Dogs
Desire to Bite.

The Initial symptoms and Progress
OF the Disease-The Mad Dogs
Desire to Bite.
II il great and dangerous error to
suppose that the disease Tin the dog)
commences with signs of raging mad
ness and that the earliest phase Of the
malady il ushered in with fury and
destruction. The first perceptible or
initial symptoms of rabies in the dog
are related to its habits. A change is
observed in the animals aspect. be-
havior, and external characteristics.
The habits of the creature are anoma-
lous and strange. 1t becomes dull,
gloomy and taciturn; seeks to isolate
itself, and chooses solitude and obscur-
ity-hiding in out-of-the-way places. or
retiring below chairs and other pieces
Of furniture; whereas in health it may
have been lively. good-natured, and
sociable. But in its retirement it can
not rest; it is uneasy and fidgety, and
betrays an unmistakable state of ma
laise. No sooner has it lain down and
gathered itself together in the usual
fashion of a dog reposing than all At
once 1t jumps up in an agitated man
ner, walks hither and thither several
times, again lies down, and assumes q
sleeping attitude, but has only main
tanned it for few minutes when it IL
once more moving about, seeking rest
but finding none" Then it retires to
its obscure corner-to the deepest re-
cess it can Finland huddles itself up
in . heap. with its head concealed
beneath its chest and its fore
paws. This state of continual agitation
and inquietude is in striking contrast
with its ordinary habits, and should.
therefore, attract the attention of mind
full people. Not unfrequently there are
. few moments when the creature ap-
pears more lively than usual, and dis
plays an extraordinary amount of affeo-
ton. Sometimes in pet dogs there is
evinced disposition to gather up small
objects, such as straws, threads, bits Of
wood, etc., which are industriously
picked up and carried away. Atendency
to lick ANYTHING cold, as iron, stones,
etc.. is also observed in many instances.
At this period no propensity to bite is
observed; the animal is docile with its
master, and obeys his voice. though not
SO readily as before, not with the same
pleased countenance. If it shakes its
tail the act is more slowly performed
than usual, and there is something
strange in the expression of the face;
the voice of its master can scarcely
change it for few seconds from sui
len gloominess to its ordinary animated
aspect; and when no longer Influenced
by the familiar talk or presence it re-
turns to its sad thoughts, for, as has
been well and truthfully said by Bouley,
''the dog thinks and has its own ideas,
which for dogs ideas are, from its point
of view, very good ideas when it is
we'll"
Tho animals movements, attitudes,
and gestures now seem to indicate that
it is haunted by and sees phantoms; it
snaps at nothing and barks as if attack
ed by real enemies. Its appearance is
altered; it has a gloomy and somewhat
ferocious aspect.
In this condition, however. it Is not
aggressive so far as mankind is concern
ed, but 10 as docile and obedient to its
master as before. 1t may even appear
to be more affectionate toward those 1t
knows, and this it manifests by the
greater desire to lick their hands and
faces
This affection, which is always 50
marked and so enduring in the dog,
dominates it SO strongly in rabies that
It will not injure those it loves, not
even in paroxysm of madness, and
even when its ferocious instincts are
beginning to be manifested, and to gain
the supremacy over them, it will yet
yield obedience to those to whom it has
been accustomed.
The mad dog has not dread of
water, but, on the contrary. will greedi-
ly swallow it. As long as it can drink
it will satisfy its ever-ardent thirst;
even when the spasm in its throat pre-
vent it swallowing. it will nevertheless
plunge its face deeply into the water
and appear to gulp at it. The dog is,
therefore, not hydrophobic, and hydro
phobia is not sign Of madness in this
animal.
1t docs not generally refuse food in
the early period of the disease, but
sometimes eats with more voracIty
than usual.
When the desire to bite, which is one
of the essential characteristics of rabies
at certain stage, begins to manifest
itself. the animal at first attacks inert
bodies-gnawing wood, leather, its
chain, crapets straw, hair, Goals. earth.
the excrement of other animals or even
its own,. and accumulates in the
stomach the remains of all the sub
stances it has been tearing with Its
teeth.
An abundance of saliva is not con-
slant symptom in rabies in the dog
Sometimes its mouth is humid, and
sometimes it is dry. Before fit of
l.